Their Rancher Protector

by Sasha Summers

  Yes, he was big and handsome and muscular and she was fully mindful of all those things. But, for now, it was the way they breathed together that she focused on. Him and her. Sharing space. She shut out everything else until the thud of his heart was solid against her chest and the sound of his breath echoed hers. Thump-thump. In and out. Solid and strong. She buried her face against his chest, pressed her hands against his back, and welcomed the comfort he offered so freely.

  * * *

  The roar of blood in his ears slowly eased. Kyle could only hope Frank Kline didn’t decide to head home before they were gone. If he did, Kyle wasn’t sure he could be held accountable for his actions. Bad people existed, that was a fact. But this was a sort of willful negligence that Kyle couldn’t wrap his head around. Skylar and her children. Little children. Innocent and dependent and precious.

  And yet, Skylar had found a way to give her girls smiles and a playhouse, laughter and a home. She’d been strong and done what needed doing for her girls.

  He couldn’t think about the roof of the trailer. He couldn’t think about the makeshift beds the girls had been using. He couldn’t think about the rotting camp cot Skylar was clearly using for her bed. Or the rusty air-conditioning unit that looked like a fire waiting to happen.

  Those things were over now. If he’d had any doubts about pushing this move, they no longer existed. She had to get out of here. The girls had to get out of here. They deserved so much better. They deserved a good life. And they would have one—in Granite Falls. With me.

  It was up to him to pull himself together, to help make this transition easier. If he was tense, they’d pick up on it and he saw how hard Skylar was working to make this move into something fun and exciting. One bark or scowl or snap and he’d mess that up.

  Better to think about the woman in his arms—the smart, resilient, tough, and beautiful woman in his arms. The longer she held on to him, the more firmly he held on to her. It was stupid to think he could somehow hug away the last year and however many months she’d been stuck out here but it was all he could do. He held her until the hell she’d been through became secondary to his far less noble reaction.

  It wasn’t as though he hadn’t noticed Skylar was a woman. He had. A damn beautiful woman, at that. But, to him, she was Chad’s widow. She belonged to his best friend. And, until now, he hadn’t been pressed up against her very womanly form and, now that he was, there was no denying how good she felt to him. Soft and warm. She fit all too well against him. Her hands pressed against his back, keeping him close, and sending conflicting signals along each and every one of his nerve endings.

  Yes, this was nice and it felt good to have her in his arms but he was here as a friend—for a friend. That’s all. Friends didn’t get distracted like this. He shouldn’t lean into her, note the scent of watermelon and soap, savor the brush of her breath through the cotton of his shirt, and he sure as hell needed to control the urge to bury his nose in her hair...

  Stop this. All of this.

  It took more effort that he’d expected to ease her away from him. Mostly because he didn’t want to put space between them. And that is exactly why I have to put space between us.

  “We should go.” He made the mistake of looking down at her—looking into her eyes. Light brown and flecked with gold. Damn beautiful. His chest grew uncomfortably tight. Stop. Now.

  She nodded, looking up at him with the same wariness he was feeling. “We should.” She nodded again, cleared her throat and went to scoop baby Greer up. She walked him through the portable crib breakdown, hastily scribbled a note on the tablet stuck to the dented front of the refrigerator and turned to face him.

  “For Frank?” he asked, suspecting the answer.

  “I wouldn’t want him to panic.” Her gaze fell from his. “I can’t leave without saying something. It’s not...right.”

  There was a whole lot about this situation that wasn’t right. After everything Kyle had heard and seen, he was pretty sure ninety-nine percent of the problem was Frank. He might not give a damn about Frank or his feelings, but that didn’t apply to Skylar. She was leaving a note to have the closure she needed to move on. He could respect that.

  With a final glance around him, he followed Skylar outside—eager to get on the road. Jet, Mya, and Brynn were still sitting together in the shade. He made sure everything was secure in the truck bed, adding a few tie-downs in case the wind picked up, then buckled the three car seats into the back. It was tight, but they all fit.

  “Where’s Jet going to sit?” Skylar asked, peering into the backseat.

  “He’ll find a spot.” Kyle shrugged. “He always finds a way.”

  “We have that in common, I guess,” Skylar said, smiling at the dog.

  “I think we’re good so whenever you’re ready?” He walked around the truck as he spoke, tugging the straps and making sure his tailgate was secure—doing pretty much anything he could to stop himself from appreciating that smile. “We’ll stop in town for ice cream.”

  “Can I run into the bank?” she asked. “I know there’s not much but I’d like to take what I have.” She secured baby Greer into the middle car seat carefully.

  Kyle nodded. “Of course.” If it was hers, she should take it with her.

  “Okay, girls.” Skylar turned, clapping her hands together. “Who’s ready to start our adventure?”

  He heard the slightest waver to her voice and placed a hand against her back. This couldn’t be easy. Sure, this was hell on earth but there were no surprises here. Leaving? Starting new in an unknown place with strangers and with her daughters in tow... She was trusting him a hell of a lot and he wasn’t about to let her down. Not after everything she’d been through.

  He and Chad had had to trust one another to stay alive. It was that trust that Chad had counted on. He’d died knowing Kyle would come here and do what needed to be done—no matter what. Chad had been family—a brother. As such, Skylar and the girls were family. Family looked out for one another. It was that simple.

  “I like your truck,” Brynn said, smiling as Skylar buckled her car seat. “It’s sooo tall.” She held her hand up high.

  “That high?” He smiled, watching Skylar so he could buckle Mya in.

  Mya held the buckle out and pointed to what went where, then patted him on the hand when he was done. She gave him a thumbs-up. “Good.”

  He gave her a thumbs-up then signed and said, “Thank you.” He’d downloaded an app on his phone last night hoping to pick up on a few basic words. Please, thank you, come, go, dog, mother, sister, baby, and water. So far, that was it. Hopefully, it’d be enough for now.

  Mya grinned and patted his hand again.

  Jet peered into the truck and looked at Kyle.

  “I know,” Kyle said. “Here.” He pulled his sleeping bag from the tool chest mounted inside his truck bed and placed it on the floorboard behind Skylar’s seat. “You good?”

  Jet jumped up, spun in a circle one way twice, back the other way three times, then flopped down.

  Mya and Brynn thought this was hilarious.

  “He good,” Brynn said.

  Mya blew Jet kisses.

  For a second, Kyle stared into the backseat of his truck. It was one thing to know Skylar and the girls needed an exit strategy and a whole other thing to realize he was their exit strategy. For a minute, the enormity of what was happening rushed in on him. It was a lot to take in—and a whole lot of responsibility.

  It’s the least I can do... If it wasn’t for him, Skylar wouldn’t be in this situation. She’d have Chad with her right now.

  “Okay.” Skylar sounded excited. “Here we go.”

  They closed the back doors of his crew cab truck and took their seats up front. That’s when he saw her hands were shaking. Not just a little bit either. A whole hell of a lot.

  “Need a minute?” he aske
d, his voice low.

  She shook her head but didn’t look at him. Instead, she tucked her hands between her legs, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.

  He didn’t push it, since he figured he’d pushed enough. He put the truck in gear and backed down the dirt drive and out onto the dirt road. It was so dry, the truck kicked up a cloud of red dust in their wake. A quick glance in the rearview mirror showed the twins staring out their windows, fascinated by the passing mesquite trees, barbwire fences, tumbleweeds, and cacti. Hardly a scenic view but they seemed happy enough.

  Skylar’s tension eased a little more with each mile he put between them and Frank’s place.

  The dirt road opened up onto the two-lane country road that would take them into town, ice cream, and a trip to Skylar’s bank. He was in no hurry but he got the feeling she was. It was almost like, now that they were leaving, she couldn’t wait to be gone.

  “Are you a cone or milkshake fan?” he asked, hoping to ease into conversation. It’d be a hell of a long drive to make in silence.

  “Me?” Skylar asked, turning his way. “I’ll be honest. I’ll take my ice cream any way I can get it.” She smiled.

  “That’s a good answer.” He nodded.

  “You?” she asked, glancing into the backseat and waving.

  “I’m a malt man, myself. Easier to enjoy while driving.” He glanced in the rearview mirror again. Mya and Brynn were making signs at each other.

  “A malt?” She sighed, resting her head against the seat.

  “Don’t tell me you’ve never had a malt.” He frowned her way.

  “Okay, I won’t tell you.” She smiled.

  He chuckled. “You’re missing out, Skylar.” He glanced her way, a little thrown by the way she was watching him.

  She blinked, her gaze falling from his.

  He turned his attention back to the road, the only sign of life was a buzzard perched atop a large, gnarled mesquite tree along the side of the road.

  “You said it’s green?” she asked. “Granite Falls?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He chuckled. Had she read his mind? Or had the look on his face given him away? Chad had always said his face was an open book. Which got them into trouble on more than one occasion. “You’ll see soon enough.”

  Twenty minutes later, they reached Flat Brush. It was, without a doubt, one of the saddest little towns Kyle had ever seen. Its main street was mostly vacant boarded-up storefronts with For Sale or For Lease signs in the windows.

  “The bank is just up there and on the right.” Skylar pointed. She turned to look at the girls. “They’ve dozed off—”

  “I can stay in the truck with them? Keep the air conditioner blasting?” Kyle offered. “Might be a little easier than unloading and loading and trying to take care of business?”

  She held her purse close. “Are you sure?” Her gaze darted to the backseat. “If Greer wakes up—”

  “Then I’ll get her out of her car seat and tell her my life story. Guaranteed to put her back to sleep in no time.” He pulled into a visitor spot in front of the bank and put the truck into Park. “Or, we can go in with you.”

  “Something tells me your life story would be anything but boring, Kyle Mitchell.” She shook her head, that gaze still pinned to his face. “Are you sure? I already feel like you’ve done so much for us.”

  He realized what was bothering her then. It was there, on her face. As much as it stung to see it, he understood. She’d been living with Frank Kline too long. “You don’t owe me a thing, Skylar. Just so we’re clear. I’m not planning on turning this against you in the future or lording it over you. Okay?”

  She nodded.

  “I mean it.” He met her gaze, willing her to believe him.

  “I know.” It was a near whisper. “Chad believed in you. That’s all I need to know. I guess... I’m so grateful.” Her voice wavered and she swallowed.

  He had two choices: hold her close and let her cry or tease away the emotion. Since they were sitting in the bank parking lot, he decided the latter was the best way to go. “You’re grateful now? Just wait until you have your first malt.”

  Skylar was so surprised, she didn’t quite cover her mouth in time to muffle her laughter. Not that Kyle minded. He liked the way she laughed. Free and easy, like Brynn or Mya. When she laughed, she wasn’t carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. “I’ll hurry,” she whispered, climbing out of the truck.

  He watched her go inside, still smiling, and glanced in the rearview mirror. Jet sat up, yawning, his head cocked to the side. “Keep it down. We don’t want to wake up the girls.” He reached back and scratched Jet behind the ear. “What do you think? How do you think Hayden’s going to react? You’ll like Hayden. He gets along better with dogs than people.” People change. It did happen. He’d changed. It had been years since he’d spent any real time with his brother. Hayden was a father now, newly married, and, according to their mother, happy and...mellow. The mellow part was hard to believe but...

  I need to cut Hayden some slack. He’d been a kid, a kid trying to protect his little brothers from their lying ass of a new stepfather. Kyle and John hadn’t wanted to see the sort of person their stepfather really was, not until they’d learned the hard way. In the end, Hayden had been right but a rift had formed between the three brothers that time and perspective could heal—at least that’s what Kyle hoped. Since there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it until he got there, Kyle hadn’t let himself dwell on how he’d be welcomed home. And all of his worry about coming home had taken a backseat once he’d pulled into Frank Kline’s driveway. But now that he’d set them all on a one-way path forward, little things like his big brother’s and mother’s reactions, the state of the bunkhouse he’d offered to Skylar, and if there was a position open on the ranch mattered.

  “Now’s the time to find out.” He sighed, shook his head, and pulled his phone from his pocket to call home.

  “Hayden Mitchell.” His brother’s voice was brusque.

  “Hey, big brother. It’s Kyle.” He cleared his throat. “I’m home, stateside.”

  “You’re home? That’s great, Kyle. Mom will be over the moon. I’m pretty damn happy, too—”

  “Well, you might not be after I’m finished.” He drew in a deep breath and laid it all out there. Chad, Jet, Skylar, the girls, Frank’s place, the bunkhouse, the job with Buzz and helping out at the ranch, and their imminent arrival. “I should have called. I should have asked. I just... I had to get them out of there, Hayden. I had to.” There was long, extended silence. So long, Kyle worried they’d been disconnected. “Hayden?”

  “The bunkhouse was wiped out in a tornado so they might have to stay in the main house for a bit—no problem. But your place made it.” Hayden cleared his throat. “Mom and Lizzie will be happy having little ones under the roof. And Weston will love having someone to play with.”

  Lizzie—the wife he’d never met. Weston—the nephew he’d never met. Lots of changes. But maybe that was the best way for them to move on.

  “As far as a job? Pretty sure Buzz is still looking so this will make his day. He’d probably pay her pretty well, too. But, even if he’s found someone, you know we always need help with the animals here on the ranch.” Hayden paused. “You’re doing right by Chad.”

  Kyle stared out the front windshield, words rising up and sticking in his throat until they formed a hard lump. Doing right? As far as he was concerned, it still wasn’t enough—it would never be enough. Chad died because of him. Skylar and the girls had suffered this way because of it. He couldn’t undo the grief and hell Skylar had shouldered since Chad’s death, but he’d do his best to share her burden moving forward. He owed it to Chad. “It’s the least I can do,” he ground out.

  “You headed this way now?” Hayden asked.

  “Still in Flat Brush.” He saw the bank door
open, saw Skylar headed this way...saw her face. “I don’t know if we’ll get there tonight or tomorrow.”

  “Probably best if you find a place along the way to overnight. Kids that young need to move a bit.” Hayden chuckled. “Or they get downright ornery.”

  “I’ll call when we’re an hour out,” he said. “I gotta go.”

  “Okay... Kyle?” Hayden paused. “I’m glad you’re home. It’ll be good to have you here.”

  Kyle let out a slow breath. “I’m looking forward to it.” He hung up about the time Skylar opened the passenger door. “What’s wrong?”

  Her face was beet red, her jaw locked tight, and there were tears on her cheeks.

  “Frank.” She shook her head, her jaw working. “I... I... He’s been lying this whole time.” She shook her head, sniffing hard and doing her damnedest to hold back the tears.

  “But you’re okay?” he asked. He didn’t give a damn about Frank.

  “Better than okay.” She nodded. “I’ve been getting monthly benefits checks from the military this whole time, Kyle. This whole time. And he never told me.”

  Kyle stared at her.

  “I should have known, I guess... After all the lies he’s fed me but it never occurred to me. I’d only ever had a little bit, in savings. We’d opened up a joint checking account when we first settled... Because, I never learn.” She was shaking her head now. “Today...I saw there was money in the checking account and asked about it. The bank associate told me it was the regular monthly deposit, as always...” Those brown eyes were huge and flashing. “I asked for the last six months’ statements.” She smoothed the papers she’d crumpled. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know we were getting a monthly payment all this time... But he did. All that money... I don’t know how he’s managed to spend it or how he could live with himself when Mya... Mya...” She broke off, staring blindly at the papers. “I let this happen, Kyle. I did...”